Ryan Esders back to lift Knights for Swinton encounter

The Knights are bringing Ryan Esders back to York after agreeing a loan deal with Harlequins which will effectively keep him at Huntington Stadium for the Championship One run-in and play-offs.

He goes straight into contention for tomorrow’s trip to Swinton Lions (3pm).

Negotiations with Gene – who also attracted Hunslet – ended when the Knights discovered the player needed surgery on his knee. It had initially been thought he could play through until the end of the season. There were also contractual issues with previous club Halifax.

Also, the Knights’ attempts to sign Gateshead prop Matt Barron and centre Kevin Neighbour – The Press revealed they were close to recruiting two players from Championship One rivals – failed.

Thunder wanted substantial fees so the Knights will wait until they are free agents at the end of the season.

Attempts to get Dennis Tuffour back failed too, as parent club Hull are struggling with injuries and the player is still eyeing a call-up to the Super League side.

Nevertheless, the return of Esders should prove a major fillip for both the team – curtailing their problems at centre – and the fans.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said: “He showed the quality he has when he was last here. He’s since been at Hull KR and Harlequins and you’d expect him to have improved further.”

The 23-year-old first came to York from amateurs Hull Dockers in 2007. He had previously been on the books of both Hull’s pro clubs.

He arrived as a back-rower and scored six tries and 29 goals in 28 appearances in his first season, being named the Press Player of the Month for August and the Supporters’ Club’s Player of the Year, before being switched to centre midway through his second campaign.

Injury curtailed that 2008 season – he played 11 games, scoring four tries and 22 goals – but he still did enough to entice Hull KR to take him up to Super League for 2009. He joined Quins on loan that July, before making the switch permanent. In total he played 22 times for the Londoners, scoring three tries.

Wilson added: “A player of that quality is what we need to help us push for promotion. It helps that he’s been here before.”

His arrival gave Woods a selection headache for tomorrow as he had planned to go with the same starting 13 as last week against Workington, with Alex Benson, back from suspension, replacing Chris Clough on the bench.

That selection would have been a boost to trialist Callum Dinsdale after his debut.

Woods said of the rookie prop: “I thought he did well enough to keep his place.”

Prop Ben Parkinson debuted in the reserves on Thursday and hooker Paul Stamp returned from injury but Woods believes tomorrow’s first-team game has come too soon for both.

Points-machine Lee Waterman is also not yet fit as hoped.

Swinton have not won for four Championship One matches but last time out, on July 11, gave title-chasing Oldham a tough examination, having been boosted by the arrivals of Dale Cuniffe from Leigh and Craig Harvey from Warrington.

They also had a fine run in the Northern Rail 9s, losing to trophy winners Halifax in golden point extra-time of the semi-finals.

Woods said: “Swinton have been underachievers but they beat us at our place and they’re at home this time so will be even tougher. They’re fighting for play-off spots too.”

Lions boss Paul Kidd, who adds Anthony Stewart to the 17 that faced the Roughyeds, said: “The performance against Oldham lifted spirits a lot and we had a bit of success in the 9s. Hopefully we can kick on.”

Knights (probable): Haynes, Wilson, Mitchell, Allan, Lineham, Thorman, Ratcliffe, Freer, Lee, Dinsdale, Ross, Duckworth, Hardbottle. Subs: from Williams, Benson, Stearman, Lewis, Clough.

Swinton (possible): R Hawkyard, Foxen, Dodd, Burkinshaw, Flooks, Harvey, Watson, Meekin, Joseph, Mulalley, D Hawkyard, Wingfield, Cuniffe. Subs: from Hulse, Wilson, Johnson, Ainscough, Stewart.

Referee: Dave Merrick (Castleford).